Information About Donations

Contribute to the new Justice Gap Fund. Increase access to justice. Help those with limited means get legal services. And in the face of a growing unmet need for such services, fulfill your professional responsibility to assist those who cannot afford legal help.

Contributions to the fund will be distributed to legal services programs that serve California’s poor and will go toward programs that:

provide legal assistance to vulnerable clients, such as victims of domestic violence and elder abuse;

help to keep families intact by avoiding homelessness and establishing guardianships, and;

ensure that low-income children receive needed health care and special education services.

Contributions are tax-exempt to the fullest extent of the law and recipients are 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal services organizations.

Join a State Bar Section now. Join 65,000 other California attorneys by enrolling or renewing your membership in any of the State Bar's 16 sections.

More than a third of State Bar members now take advantage of this opportunity to exchange ideas and information in special areas of the law, from antitrust to workers' comp, and in special-interest areas such as solo and small firm, and law practice management and technology.

See your 2015 fee statement for a complete list of the sections. If you already belong, those sections are clearly marked and you can easily continue your membership by entering the total payment.

If you are interested in joining new or additional sections, just mark them and tally the total. All of these sections are voluntary and are not supported by State Bar dues. Benefits of section membership include:

Special discounts on CLE seminars

Your section membership displayed on your public member record online

Networking opportunities

It also enables the sections to provide their services and benefits exclusively for their members.

The mission of the California Supreme Court Historical Society is twofold: preserving the rich legal history of our state and broadening public understanding of, and appreciation for, the contributions of courts and attorneys to California’s history.

The Society works to carry out its mission in several different ways. For example, during the past two years the Society:

Commissioned a University of California historian to prepare an oral history of recently-retired Chief Justice Ronald M. George

Partnered with the Northern District of California Historical Society to present “Chief Justice David Terry and Federalism,” a program featuring seven judges from both state and federal courts in dramatic readings from the life of David Terry, a colorful and controversial man who served as Chief Justice of California in the turbulent 1850s

Co-sponsored a program on the history and future of the citizen initiative in California

Co-sponsored a program at the University of Southern California (USC) School of Law celebrating the contributions of African American appellate court justices in California

Conducted two writing competitions, open to students in law schools and graduate schools, and published the winning essays in California Legal History, the Society's highly regarded annual journal

The Society receives no financial support from the State Bar or government at any level. It relies for nearly all of its revenue on donations from individual lawyers and judges. These donations are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.

Continue the long tradition of lawyer debate in the legislative process. Consider making a donation to the independent Conference of Delegates of California Bar Associations.

Each year, local and specialty bars from throughout the state sponsor more than 100 resolutions for debate on the conference floor.

In the past four years, more than 25 of these resolutions have become state law. Maintain this vital function: Mark your suggested contribution of $35 or more on the 2015 Annual Fee Statement.

The independent CDCBA is not part of The State Bar of California and receives no bar funding. Contributions are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions, but the portion not allocated for legislative lobbying expenses may be deducted as an ordinary and necessary business expense.

Member Resources

CalBar ConnectUse CalBar Connect to access discounts and exclusive programs, including several group insurance programs designed to serve the needs of attorneys. Your purchases through CalBar Connect bolster member services and keep membership fees low.

Ethics Hotline
This confidential research service (for attorneys only) can help you identify and analyze your professional responsibilities.You can reach the hotline staff from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays by calling 800-238-4427 (or 415-538-2150 from outside California).

Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP)
Are you struggling with a substance abuse problem, mental health issue or career crisis? The LAP can help.
For more information, call the toll-free confidential hotline at 877-LAP4HELP (213-765-1190 outside California) or send an e-mail to: LAP@calbar.ca.gov.

Legal Specialization
The State Bar offers California lawyers the opportunity to become certified in 11 areas of law practice, from appellate law to family law to workers' compensation law.

Trust Accounting Handbook
To assist attorneys in complying with the rules for maintaining client trust accounts, the State Bar publishes the Handbook on Client Trust Accounting for California Attorneys. Download the text for free.

Attorneys in MCLE Compliance Group 2 (last names H-M), will be able to report compliance starting Dec. 1, 2014, and must report by Feb. 2, 2015, to avoid a $75 late fee.

Note: Even those Group 2 attorneys who are “exempt” by virtue of their employment (see MCLE Rule 2.54), must attest to their exemption by Feb. 2, 2015, or they will be assessed a late fee.

Public EducationOrder copies of the State Bar's consumer guides and pamphlets --- and distribute them to clients or a community group or a local high school class. Some are free of charge; others are available for a small fee that helps cover the costs of the bar's public education program. Many are available in foreign languages as well.

If you do not have access to the Internet, call 888-875-LAWS (5297) for information.

You Need To Know

State Bar fees are due Feb. 2, 2015. Avoid paying a penalty. Pay your fees on time. Your payment must be paid online (see below) or postmarked by Feb. 2, 2015. If you miss the deadline, a penalty will attach on Feb. 3 ($100 for active lawyers, $30 for inactive lawyers). If you have questions, call the Member Services Center at 888-800-3400.

Pay your fees online at no extra cost. Simply go to Member Services on the State Bar’s website (calbar.ca.gov) and set up your individual My State Bar Profile. Returning users should log in using their personal password. If you are a first-time user, you will need the access code that appears on the front of your fee statement.

You are only eligible to pay at the inactive rate if you transfer to voluntary inactive status by Feb. 2, 2015. Applications for Transfer to Inactive Membership Status must be received and effective no later than Feb. 2 to be eligible for the inactive membership fee rate for that year. A change to inactive status after Feb. 2 is permissible, however the member must pay annual fees at the active rate and is not entitled to a refund because of the change to inactive status.

Report any change in your address. If you have a new address, log on to My State Bar Profile to update your contact information. Note: California Rule of Court 9.7 makes it a requirement to use My State Bar Profile as the means to report changes to your contact information, as well as to provide an maintain an email address for State Bar communications. If you have not already done so, please register today to ensure your compliance.

If your trust account information has changed in the past year, you may need to notify the State Bar. This requirement only applies to active members living in California. To update or change your trust account information, log on to My State Bar Profile.